Surgical Instructions | Office of Jeffrey Lee, MD DMD

Please follow all the rules below to help us ensure you have a safe and successful surgery.

Pre-Operative Instructions

If a tooth is knocked out, it should be placed in salt water or milk and the patient should get to a dentist or an oral surgeon as soon as possible.
If you take routine oral medications, please check with Dr. Lee prior to your surgical date for instructions.
If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach or bowel upset, please notify the office.
The night before and the day of surgery, do not drink any alcoholic beverages.
Minors (under 18 years of age) must have a parent or legal guardian present at the time of consultation and surgery.
Bring all insurance forms, information and available x-rays.
Wear loose-fitting, short-sleeved, comfortable clothing (avoid high heels).
Do not wear any jewelry.

The day before surgery, drink lots of water, 8 glasses or more is best. It is important to be hydrated before surgery and before your 6 hour food and drink cut-off time.
All patients anticipating general anesthesia or I.V. sedation must NOT have anything to eat or drink (including water) 6 hours prior to the scheduled surgery appointment.
A responsible adult must drive and escort the patient home.
The patient should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following the anesthesia experience.

Bite down on the gauze placed in your mouth after the procedure to help stop the bleeding.
Change the gauze every hour until the bleeding has stopped.
Blood in the saliva for 1-2 days is normal.
Heavy bleeding may be controlled with gauze packs or non-herbal tea bags over the wound with biting pressure.

Take 2-4 tablets of Advil 200mg every 6 hours or the prescribed pain medication. Do not take medications on an empty stomach.
DO NOT take Tylenol with prescribed pain medication and do not take any form of aspirin. (Baby aspirin is OK.)

You may have liquids after 1 hour and soft foods after 4 hours at room temperature or below.
For the following 4-5 days stay on a soft diet at any temperature.
Drink a lot of water. It is very important that you stay hydrated.
It is very important to eat plenty of protein to assist in the healing process. Soft food recommendations: protein shakes, yogurt, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, avocado, bananas, apple sauce, pasta, oatmeal, ice-cream, Jell-O.
Avoid spicy, tough or sharp foods during the initial healing days.
Do not smoke for a minimum of 72 hours and ideally 2 weeks.
Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours.
Do not use a straw for 2-3 days.

Carefully brush your teeth, but do not disturb or scrape the surgical wounds.
On the day after, if the bleeding has stopped, gently rinse with warm salt water every 3-4 hours for 2 weeks. Place ½-1 teaspoon of salt to 1 glass of room temperature or warm water. Gently swish areas and spit out.
Do not use any commercial mouthwashes for one month. This may irritate the wound and slow the healing process.

Start using the syringe on the third day after your surgery. Fill the syringe with regular water.
Carefully put the syringe tip into the extraction socket (hole in the gums).
Flush the area clean with the water. Do this a few times until the socket is fully rinsed out and is clean.
Use after every meal and before you go to bed until the extraction socket is fully closed (1½-2 months).

If the corners of your mouth are cracked or sore from the retractors used during surgery, keep them well lubricated with such product as Vaseline or Chap-Stick.

It is not always necessary to take antibiotics after oral surgery. If you are given a prescription other than for pain, have it filled and take all the medication according to the directions on the label.

If you develop a rash or itching, stop taking your medication and call our office immediately.

The doctor may have stitched up the area where the surgery was performed with self-dissolving stitches. These stitches will dissolve by themselves over the course of time as your wound heals.
If you experience a throbbing pain that becomes worse after a few days (generally 4-5 days after surgery) and does not respond to the medication you are taking, this may indicate dry socket. It is necessary for you to call the office and arrange for a sedative dressing.
Other teeth on the same side may ache temporarily. You may have a sore throat or earache for a few days. If the medication you are taking does not make you feel comfortable, call the office.
You may develop a fever. If your temperature reaches 101°, call the office.
A numbness of the lower lip, chin or the tongue may occur on the same side as the surgery and may persist for months or longer. This is not unusual and usually disappears in time. Mention this at your post-operative visit.
There may be a “hole” in your gums after a surgery. This will fill in with bone as time progresses, and as the wound heals. Rinse your mouth after each meal to keep it clean.
Bony edges or small sharp bone fragments may work up through the gums during healing. These are not roots. If annoying, call the office to arrange for their simple removal.
The proper care following oral surgical procedures will hasten healing and prevent complications.

Try not to stand too long or walk around for the first day. This may cause lower blood pressure and cause dizziness, fainting, and falling.
Do not drive for at least 24 hours after general anesthesia or sedation.
Drowsiness, nausea and vomiting are not uncommon following intravenous anesthesia, and usually disappears after 24 hours.

Get Well Soon!